11 Nov 2019 First Team Match Reports

Hendon handed points as conditions contribute to late winner

Hendon 2 Beaconsfield Town 1

Rams Man of the Match - Charlie Losasso

With sixty- six minutes gone at Silver Jubilee Park it appeared that Beaconsfield had done a professional job and secured the points. Charlie Losasso struck a low shot which skidded into the bottom corner from twenty yards and ten-man Hendon’s dogged resistance was finally undone.

Whether the players thought they’d done the job or just let the relief of finally getting their noses in front creep in is hard to tell? Either way a minute later the home side were level.

An innocuous looking cross from a left-wing free kick squirted off a combination of Dave Diedhiou, apparently comfortably offside when the ball was played, and Luke Neville.Despite any number of adjacent defenders, it fell kindly for the home side, presenting Tom Hamblin with a chance from 10 yards which he struck home with aplomb.

It was the home sides first shot in the second half which, up to that point, they had spent chasing shadows as Beaconsfield maintained possession and sought to press home their man advantage.

No doubt the absence of Reece Yorke, who limped off moments earlier may have contributed to the failure to deal with the set piece. but suddenly The Rams were in a game and the home side sensed a chance.

Debutant Isaac Galliford, on loan from Hemel Hempstead, the home sides outstanding attacker of the afternoon, fired in a vicious low cross shot which Myles Bowman stretched full length to brilliantly tip away.

At the other end Jon-Jo Bates wriggled through a posse of defenders and advanced on goal only to see his low shot deflected away from goal by the out-stretched ankle of Chris Grace, making his final appearance in the home goal.

Tyrell Mitford beat the offside trap but somehow conspired with Tony Mendy to come away with a corner when a goal looked easier to obtain.

That corner led to a second which Grace dropped under pressure at his far post but the keeper reacted quickest and fell on the ball before his error could be capitalised upon.

Seconds later, at the other end, Myles Bowman was less fortunate. Graces long clearance cleared everyone and Mayo Balogun covered off to cushion a straight-forward header back to his keeper.

Perhaps thinking about distribution before securing possession and in atrocious conditions for handling, the keeper could not secure the ball. It somehow squirmed through his grasp and squirted out behind him. Galliford, lurking to pick up just such scraps, nipped in and beat Bowman to the loose ball and fired into the empty net from four yards.

Home celebrations afterward felt that the victory was deserved perhaps bouyed by the new manager bounce given to them by the appointment of Lee Allinson.

In truth, though Beaconsfield rode their luck until just before half time, when Kameron English was deservedly shown a straight red for a reckless lunge on Mayo Balogun. From there on the Rams created more than enough chances to win the game.

Anthony Mendy had what appeared to be a perfectly good goal disallowed when he capitalised on a mix up in the home defence.

Bizarely he was adjudged to have fouled Luke Tingey despite being a yard away from him. The centre half was actually injured colliding with his own goalkeeper.

Mr Stevens also considered the non-foul worthy of a yellow card which was extremely harsh on Mendy. The big striker also drew a save from Grace sliding in on the edge of the box as he swept up behind his back four.

Next up the Rams entertain Banbury in the Southern League Challenge Cup.